Paddle with elastic coil ball tether

ABSTRACT

A paddle toy for coordination, skill and amusement employing a paddle and a ball connected by a coil spring having a substantially rectangular cross section. Through the use of the special coil spring which permits stacking of the coils, the ball can be bounced with an intriguing sound effect against the paddle requiring the development of skill for amusement. In modifications, the ball may be substituted by a figurine and the ball or figurine and the paddle can be coated with a luminescent paint for nighttime illumination.

United States Patent Starr 1 Nov. 21, 1972 [54] PADDLE WITH ELASTIC COIL BALL 280,807 7/1883 Farley ..273/DIG. 24

TETHER [72] Inventor: Irving Starr, 8560 Averett, St. Primary p F Louis, 63117 Assistant Examiner-Marvm Siskmd Attorney-Rogers, Ezell, Eiiers & Robbins [22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,003 [57] ABSTRACT A paddle toy for coordination, skill and amusement [52] U.S.Cl. ..273/97 R, 273/D1G. 24 employing a paddle and a ball connected by a coil [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 73/02 spring having a substantially rectangular cross section. [58] Field of Search ..273/98, 97 R, DIG. 24, 96 R; Through the use of the special coil spring which per- R mits stacking of the coils, the ball can be bounced with an intriguing sound effect against the paddle [56] References C'ted requiring the development of skill for amusement. ln

modifications, the may be substituted a figurine and the ball or figurine and the paddle can be 2,415,012 1/1947 James ..46/1 R coated with a luminescent paint for nighttime i]]u 2,854,786 10/1958 Sabo ..46/1 R minatiom 2,848,236 8/1958 Gibson ..273/97 R 300,097 6/1884 McAllister ..273/97 R 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures in: W20

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PATENTED Z I 3.703.292

mvuve STARR,

14 TTO @NEYS INVEN ORt PADDLE WITH ELASTIC COIL BALL TETHER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the past, games of paddle ball, in which an elastic ball has been connected to a paddle by means of an elastic cord have provided great sources of amusement and development of dexterity and coordination. Such paddles can be used in a myriad of fashions and generally do not require a high degree of skill, such that boredom of a child or other user can soon develop.

By means of the instant invention, there has been developed a paddle toy in which a ball or other type of object such as a figurine or the like is connected to the paddle by a loose coiled spring having a substantially rectangular cross section. The spring is of the type used in piston rings and has a high degree of elasticity such that it can be easily stretched out and, by its elastic nature, retract to a stacked position so that the figurine and the spring itself can bounce against the paddle for repeated and cyclic bouncing. A degree of coordination and skill is required and the operation of the toy appeals to the playful spirit in children, adolescents, as well as adults. The toy, through the use of the spring, also makes a metallic noise which is intriguing and attractive to the user in development of the cyclic bouncing operation.

The toy, instead of a ball, may be equipped with various types of interchangeable figurines which can be bounced against the paddle through the use of the elastic spring. Further, the paddle and the ball and, if desired, the spring, can be coated with conventional luminescent paints to provide a very intriguing and pleasing nighttime attraction through the expansion and contraction of the spring in the bouncing of the ball or figurine against the paddle.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the paddle toy;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the paddle;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation taken from the right side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing the manner of affixation of the ball to the paddle through the special spring construction;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view showing a typical type of use of the paddle toy;

FIG. 6 is a modified view showing another type of use of the toy and the substitution of a figurine for the ball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The paddle toy of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and is comprised of a wooden paddle 22, a coil spring 24 and an elastic ball 26, as best shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

The paddle 22 is a wooden construction, as an example, although it may be made of other rigid materials and has a handle portion 28 and a paddle portion 30, as

best shown in FIG. 2. The paddle portion 30 serves both to secure the spring and to provide a flat bouncing surface for the spring and the attached ball.

The spring 24 is best shown in FIG. 4 and is generally helical in nature. The spring coil material has a generally rectangular cross section 32 as shown in FIG. 4, such that stackingof each of the coils upon the adjacent coil may occur without any slipping or riding off in the rapid expansion and contraction in the bouncing operation. The axial length of the spring is somewhat less than the coil diameter. The spring is of the general type used in piston rings and has a great degree of elasticity along its longitudinal axis. Its construction is typified in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,415,012, granted Jan. 28, 1947, and 2,862,330, granted Dec. 2, 1958. The spring is attached at one end by staples 34 to the paddle portion 30 of the paddle. It will be understood that other manners of affixation, however, can be employed, such as by riveting and the like. The top or ball securing portion of the spring has an outwardly bent extension 36 which is secured to the ball 26 as shown in FIG. 4.

In a modification as shown in FIG. 6, the ball is replaced by a figurine 38. In this modification, the actual bouncing of the spring occurs and the figurine serves mainly for attractiveness, although some bouncing of the figurine itself may be effected and is guided by the spring. It will be understood that various types of figurines can be employed, such as the head figurine 38, shown in FIG. 6, as well as animal figurines or any other object as desired.

USE

The paddle toy of this invention is adapted for use generally in the same fashion as the conventional wellknown type of paddle employed with an elastic ball and elastic string. A typical manner of use is shown in FIG. 5 where the paddle is sharply oscillated in the direction of the dotted arrow to bounce the spring and the ball against the paddle for repetitive bouncing action. Instead of bouncing downwardly, the paddle can be reversed and the bouncing action can be effected with the spring and the ball above the paddle, such as shown Y in the type of use typified in FIG. 6, with the direction of the paddle oscillation being shown again by the dotted arrow.

Various modifications and changes in this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

I. A paddle toy comprising a paddle having a handle connected to a paddle surface and an elastic coil connected at one end of said surface, said coil having an opposed end directly connected to a ball, said coil material having a substantially rectangular cross section to facilitate flat surface stacking of the coils upon one another in the contracted position said rectangular cross section comprising a rectangular configuration having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides in which the length is substantially greater than the width and the long sides of the rectangle are disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the coil and the coil having a diameter greater than the contracted axial length of the coil.

and the long sides of the rectangle are disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the coil and the coil having a diameter greater than the contracted axial length of the coil, said coil having an opposed end directly connected to a ball, the coil being contracted to stack by gravity upon itself in the rest position and the ball having a lesser diameter than the diameter of the coil.

l IF 

1. A paddle toy comprising a paddle having a handle connected to a paddle surface and an elastic coil connected at one end of said surface, said coil having an opposed end directly connected to a ball, said coil material having a substantially rectangular cross section to facilitate flat surface stacking of the coils upon one another in the contracted position said rectangular cross section comprising a rectangular configuration having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides in which the length is substantially greater than the width and the long sides of the rectangle are disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the coil and the coil having a diameter greater than the contracted axial length of the coil.
 1. A paddle toy comprising a paddle having a handle connected to a paddle surface and an elastic coil connected at one end of said surface, said coil having an opposed end directly connected to a ball, said coil material having a substantially rectangular cross section to facilitate flat surface stacking of the coils upon one another in the contracted position said rectangular cross section comprising a rectangular configuration having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides in which the length is substantially greater than the width and the long sides of the rectangle are disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the coil and the coil having a diameter greater than the contracted axial length of the coil. 